Criteria of Appointment for Members of the Virtual Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers:

New applicants/transfers to the region:

a) need to prove themselves by the positive way they handle themselves online.

b) must help out with on line fundraisers/projects and in the field (meetings and projects online); therefore must actively participate in the running of at least one VHR project per year.

c) must be an active member of the forums. Because this is the Virtual region being positively active on forum is a requirement.

d) must do the required courses and qualify as required of all SANParks Honorary Rangers.

e) must do duty on the forums in the form of moderator duties/forum assistant duties/other duties such as contributing positively to the forums. All members and applicants should be actively involved in promoting some type of VHR/forum activity (doing duty) moving forward.

f) must attend the required amount of meetings (online) per annum.

g) must undertake to submit their monthly hours for the region's stats timeously.

h) some experience of one or more of the parks, and the website is required.

i) must undertake to pay their fees.

j) Applicants and appointment to the region will be considered upon the following by the region's RMC who will consider each appointment at their discretion:

1). Great interest should be shown in the VHR's and have been involved in at least one forum project before application. (no time limit).2). Are fulfilling criteria of general forum involvement.

k) Permanent appointment of applicants:1. Subject to a minimum of 12 months of fully complying to the region's Criteria of Appointment; or for a shorter period determined at the discretion of the RMC.

l) Reappointments:1. Subject to active involvement and will be evaluated for being an active member of the region and the forum over the last 12 months and strictly and fully complying to the region's Criteria of Appointment.2. Should also have accumulated at least 100 MIS points.

2. Subject to SHR'S MEMBERSHIP POLICY: GUIDELINES

When considering to apply for membership the following should be remembered:

1. The SANParks Honorary Rangers is a voluntary service organisation. Members are in no way paid for their services, and receive no fringe benefits for the work they do.

2. Becoming a SANParks Honorary Ranger is not about being entitled or being placed in a position of power. It is about serving and promoting the cause of nature conservation in the South African National Parks.

3. Being a member of the SANParks Honorary Rangers implies that you work as part of the SHR movement. You will fall under the rules and regulations of the SHR movement and perform your service according to the rules, decisions and priorities of the movement.

Application to the region can be made by submission of the application forms found here to VHR@sanparks.org or contacting the Secretary Crested Val

Once application is received it will be considered by the Regional Management Committee who will also invite the applicant to a ‘virtual meeting’. The applicants will be advised on what will be expected of them, the type of training they will need to undergo before they can be appointed full SHRs and they will be given information on how the region and the movement operates.

Acceptance of an applicant is not automatic, and the region will limit its membership numbers according to the needs and capabilities of the region.

The Virtual region operates as all other SHR regions do and complies with the SANParks HR Constitution. They serve the SANParks Forums, and the SANParks cause and hold meetings on line. Membership is open to international members.

At the end of it all you don't want to go into the grave peacefully and quietly in well preserved body... You want to go sort off skidding in sideways, full of bruises and scratches saying: "Man what a ride!!!"

Sounds good.just a question or two.(1) where can I find out the exact curriculum ( if I may call it that )of the courses that need to be done (2) does living in KZN make any difference to the application .

I have just read the website for the honory rangers ... and Looks like its rather difficult . When I move to CT I think it would be a good time to think about it as then I will have time on my hands ..lots of time, thats when we are not in a Sanpark ..

Hugh If you have free time or if you are in a SANPARK its all the same... You can do "duty" in a SANPARK while you there.....

So looks like your free time in CT is no longer...

At the end of it all you don't want to go into the grave peacefully and quietly in well preserved body... You want to go sort off skidding in sideways, full of bruises and scratches saying: "Man what a ride!!!"

I spoke to an HR some time ago. This was before I moved to the farm. They asked why I was not prepared to become involved in one of the local branches. I get a sense that not everyone is aware of how potent cyberspace can be.

Just a question.. what would be the advantage of joining "Virtual Rangers" rather than a local branch?

At the moment safety is an issue, (I do not want to drive these roads at night) but I wonder if anyone else is grappling with this question.

The bird doesn't sing because it has answers, it sings because it has a song.

MM - the advantage of Virtual Rangers is that anyone active on the forums and associated projects can join. Many folk cannot join a local region for the reasons you state and several others. Our meetings take place over 3 days online - easy to attend and be part of.

You can still do the extra courses and do duties in any of the parks if you want to.

Smiling is contagious. Start an epidemic today!

Have you read the entrance permit? Do you KNOW the Conditions of Entry?

MM - I agree with EJ. As we discussed the other day, your best option would be the Virtual Region, as you live quite far from any Regional meeting venue. You could still contribute to HR work and enrol in some of the educational courses (which are great!).

Think about it!

Malelane 12th October 2016Skukuza 16th October 2016Lower Sabie 17th October 2016Skukuza 2nd-5th March 2017Satara 5th-8th March 2017Tamboti 8th-11th March 2017